Substance Abuse and Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a
shock or blow to your head that changes the way your brain works. A TBI can change
the way
you think, feel, and act. Substance abuse is using a substance, like alcohol or a
drug, in
an uncontrolled way that hurts you or those around you. Many people with a TBI also
have
problems with substance abuse.
Substance abuse can lead to a TBI.
Studies show that at least 3 in 10 people hospitalized for a TBI have a history of
substance abuse. This relationship can work in the opposite way, as well. Having a
TBI can
lead to substance abuse, even if you haven’t had a problem with substance abuse in
the
past. Alcohol is the most common type of substance abuse problem seen in people with
a
TBI.
Why substance abuse leads to TBI
Just like a TBI, substance abuse changes the way you think, act, and feel. Being intoxicated
affects your vision, coordination, and judgment. This can lead to risky behavior and
poor decisions that cause TBI accidents and injuries.
Why TBI leads to substance abuse
Symptoms of a TBI include slowed
thinking, mood swings, depression, anxiety, and headaches. Living with these symptoms
can be very frustrating. Some people try to ease their problems with alcohol or drugs.
This is very dangerous. A TBI may make your brain more easily affected by alcohol
and
drugs.
The dangers of misusing alcohol or drugs after a TBI
If you've been diagnosed with a
TBI, you need to know how dangerous it is to try to ease your symptoms with alcohol
or
drugs. Mixing a TBI with misuse of alcohol or drugs raises your risk for:
What to do
Knowing the dangers of substance
abuse after TBI is the first step. Many people who've had a substance abuse problem
in
the past actually stop using drugs and alcohol after a TBI because they understand
the
dangers. Here are key steps to take:
-
Be honest with your healthcare
team.
Let them know if you're having problems with alcohol or drugs.
-
Stick with your treatment program. People in supervised treatment are less likely to have substance abuse problems.
-
Don’t spend too much time
alone.
Have friends and family take part in your recovery.
-
Join a support group. Ask
your healthcare provider if you need help finding one.
-
Don’t get discouraged. Knowing that the symptoms of TBI usually go away in time will help you have a successful
recovery.
It may be tempting to ease the
symptoms and frustration of recovering from a TBI by drinking alcohol or taking drugs.
But this only makes things worse. Be patient with your brain. It takes time to heal.
Remember that most people do recover.